User blog:Sleepyzs/My personal thoughts/review for the Devil May Cry 4 "Special" Edition

If Devil May Cry 5 (based on Capcom's antsy behavior, probably not happening) is anything like DMC4se, screw it, I can respect and enjoy Devil May Cry 1 and 3, while only acknowledge DMC4. The pathetic introduction of DLC into a series (not including DmC, cuz at this point its style doesn't match the Devil May Cry series, and the focus is questionably different than the former series) that respected its players to earn and develop their skills to get through the game, now gives handouts almost insultingly so. This is valid even till the original DMC4, considering it came out in the 7th gen where DLC was a thing; Capcom/developers still respected players. If you want to acknowledge DmC as part of the original series (no disrespect, I won't, look above for my reason), then chronologically you can blame this title for the introduction of DLC.

Personally I hate the concept of DLC, since from my perspective (and hopefully others will agree) it sends the message not only are we getting an incomplete game, but we are paying extra to "build" the "complete" game we originally paid for. Is that what's happening in DMC4se, no, but if this is any indication for the future, then this is shitty foreshadowing. In relation to DmC, the fact that bloody palace was delegated to DLC, regardless of being free, is shitty practice by Capcom to DmC players (especially for its fans). It gives the image that at a certain point Capcom was comfortable with making fans pay for a feature that, at that point, was a staple of games.

Consider this, you play through part of DMC# (tentative title) and you hit a wall where either your skills or the the skills acquired in game aren't enough and can't be reasonably (orb/soul farming) obtained, then you have only one option... pay for mandatory assistance (either by means of a mandatory MacGuffin or some other code debugger, yes this should be considered a bug). A simple example that Capcom could/would possibly employ: make gold/yellow orbs purchase only retries. For some/most of the DMC community this could be a none issue, but for those new to the series this action would seem like Capcom trying to set up a pay gate for unexperienced gamers/fans.

Now on to DMC4se...... Not only is the game the same exact product, though with the questionable inclusion of "new" content, but it's managed to become an even shorter experience. Not only do I not have an interest to play through the game as Nero/Dante, but being able to see and handle Lady and Trish's character models in bloody palace, the concept of playing through the game as any character other than Vergil is restrictive and borderline stupid. I don't mean to insult anyone (casual players/fans or hardcore players) who enjoys playing the game with those characters, but for those who are returning to DMC4 and experienced its flaws, nothing has changed and the only thing to really carry this "special" edition are certain mechanics for Vergil (though this could just be personal) and for some Lady and Trish. I won't lie the Concentration mechanic is an interesting idea in that it buffs the damage output for basic attacks/combs, while at the same time in conjunction to DT gating special moves, but it never moves beyond this. Why not include more gated combos at varying concentration levels, without DT requirements (unfortunate fate of Rising Sun) or maybe actually extend the concept of damage buffering (the visual quality) to Force Edge and Beowulf (besides phase 3 just releases), why not give them new concentration level gated moves? The mechanic is cool and fits Vergil's persona, but it was only used on a surface level, so its mediocre at best.

Now I hated this concept in its initial trailer reveal and I still hate it now. WHY IS AIR TRICK GATED BY SUMMON SWORDS?!!!! This move by the developers baffled me. Why would you remove or decrease moveset complexity in a game where another character is the pinnacle of the concept? I stand by my view, using summon swords should have only increased the accuracy of air trick (for long range movement) not act as the initiator for air trick. Not only is it a step back from DMC3se Vergil, but its an awkward mechanic in a game where moves and combos should be instant. DMC3 had this down, why did DMC4se have to default to this? This is a stupid concept introduced through DmC. For DmC fans, I would ask please play through DMC3se as Vergil and compare air trick there and then again in DmC. Being able to press a single button to get closer to an enemy is much better than having to press two or more (R2/L2 + Square +) to do the same, especially in games where fast and effective gameplay is championed. I understand using summon swords to initiate angel/demon pulls is cool/needed, but DMC4se doesn't use these mechanics so this concept is a waste in this game.

I'll admit the borrowed rapid slash from DmC was a nice addition to DMC3se Vergil since it allowed for more fluid combo strings. Some might argue DmC should get acknowledgement for the visual styling of Judgement Cut and its just variant, however I would argue the visual styling was already established in DMC4 Darkslayer Slash Dimension F/C, while the just system was also established in DMC4 through Gilgamesh's just mechanic. I might even argue DmC borrowed from DMC4 (not a bad idea, Ninja Theory was new to DMC so it was only inevitable to do so).

But now we begin to deconstruct Vergil move by move or comb by comb. Aerial Rave A (DmC), Aerial Rave B (at start DmC then DMC4 by way of Nero roulette-spin), Rising Star (DmC), Yamato A combo (DMC3se), Yamato B combo (DmC), Yamato C combo (DMC3se by way of DMC3 Dante million slash), Upper Slash (DMC3se), Upper Slash 2 (DmC), Force Edge Combo B (DMC3 by way of jet stream ending with revolver), Stinger 1/2 (DMC1), Air Stinger (DMC4se by way of DMC4 Nero calibur), Helm Breaker (DMC1), Million Stab (DMC3 by way of Dante million stab), Drive and Over Drive (DMC3 and DMC4 by Dante drive and over drive respectively), Round Trip (DMC1), Lunar Phase 1/2 (DMC3se), Rising Dragon (DMC3), Dragon Breaker (DMC4se), Beowulf A combo (DMC3se), Beowulf B combo (DMC4 by way of Dante gilgamesh B combo), Beast Uppercut (DMC3), Starfall 1/2 (DMC3se), Kick 13 (DMC4), Flush (DMC4), Rising Sun (DMC3se).

Now I have no problems with adding some moves from DmC, which actually worked fairly well, but the unbelievable copying from Dante's DMC4 character model is annoying. This is the same fate of Lady and Trish, but that's later. I won't lie, I really enjoyed playing as Vergil despite the questionable moves and crappy move grafting (though this might just be me missing and hoping for more from Vergil, it's not like Capcom can't bring him back into canon. Come on this is Devil May Cry, story progression and believability was never an all important thing).

Finally for Vergil, the two CG clips. Besides a partly stylish intro, you basically get nothing in way of plot just some random glance from a woman fans can only guess at a link between and some stupid and pointless self dialogue at the end. Basically if you had any hopes for any kind of confirmation, forget it.

Now to the pandering offered in DMC4se, Trish and Lady or basically swordmaster and gunslinger, respectively though nerfed. I'm not going to go through their individual movesets, but basically if you're a fan of the series you'll be able to list out the carbon copies just by sight. What you've done is basically made two style versions of DMC3 Dante with skins of key characters from the series. If you managed to play DMC2 twice (haha I respect you, how do you stand the boredom) and play as Trish, well give her the same progression as Dante had from DMC3 to DMC4 and basically you have DMC4se Trish. In Lady's case basically watch all the DMC3 video clips and have Dante wear a Lady costume and you have DMC4se Lady. Playwise I could say Trish is more enjoyable than Lady, but honestly I hate both of them.

Trish's control scheme is basically jump, guns, Gilgameshless/Beowulfless punch kick button, Sparda button, and devil trigger. Lady's control scheme jump, gun button, special gun button, and Kalina Ann blade button. Out of the two Lady is just a bore, I would say keep her a video character not a playable character. If you enjoy gunslinger, then great you might love this character model, but remember playing as gunslinger through a whole play through stuck with entirely guns. She's great crowd control and heavy hitting charge damage, but against bulky enemies you're pretty much keeping your distance, which is in a way in direct opposition to the nature of Devil May Cry. Trish on the other hand, might be a good intro for entirely new comers (assuming they enjoy playing as Lady for the first 11 missions or playing as Trish strictly in bloody palace), but honestly her control scheme is weird as hell (when you're expecting for separate buttons to do separate commands) or at least pointless since certain punch/kick combos will flow into sword moves with the same button. To sum up Lady and Trish just think of it as mandatory DLC forced down our throats in an otherwise not so special "special" edition. Oh wait what's that I hear, there are more skins DLC for Trish and Lady, well Capcom why don't I just throw my money at your feet (you wish).

Also on a side note, Trish is a electricity based demon, so why the hell can't she attack Blitz head on?!! This might be oversight or a delibirate move by Capcom/developers, regardless it was a stupid move.

Either way I see it, this game was a cash grab simply put. I understand Capcom is company and money is its life force, but honestly could you be anymore blatant other than saying in big red letters give us money now? Considering this "special" edition is almost 7/8 years separated from it's original release, this release only exists to recoup losses that befell Capcom through DmC. It's not like the special edition couldn't have worked on the 7th gen consoles; so what if you loose some of the pretty particle effects (not sure about Legendary Dark Knight, but if they were assured to make more money I bet you they could've made it work); it's not like DMC4 was ugly on the 7th gen consoles. Arguably it was one of the more stunning titles released for the amount and quality of detail put in. I think it'd be reasonable to say, had Capcom released this game 1-2 years after the the initial release (and physically you money grubbing thieves) they would've made way more profit than they are right now. Out of all the DMC titles, DMC4 sold the best (for obvious reasons at the time), while DmC managed to sell worse, to the point where Capcom had to keep dropping its expectations to make it seem profitable. So this all points to Capcom having to damage control and pander to the original fan base, in ways DmC only managed to alienate them away (on a superficial level yes the "hair", image, and personality, but on a serious note game focus, shitty marketing, developer-gamer interaction, and shitty press coverage/ reviewer-gamer interaction), to keep yet another money franchise alive.

I would end by saying, if DLC is a thing from now on (in the way I was foreshadowing), adios Devil May Cry, you managed to alienate not only me but also other fans (hopefully many more). So if this is Capcom trying to suck up dollars from fans, well the joke would be on you cuz we'll just leave (hopefully others will do so as well). Also if there is a future in Devil May Cry left (assuming Capcom isn't playing dumb with fans and starts actually listening to its gamer base) TAKE YOUR TIME FOR DMC5 (and if DmC even has a possibility of having a future) AND DmC 2!!!!!!!!! If either of those games end up like DMC4 in its original release (littered with backtracking and static mission design; consequently the game was pushed into a premature release in it's original run through) never touching the tenative series again, unless Kamiya makes a spiritual successor to the greatness that was DMC1 and DMC3.



Note: I tried to make this as objective as possible, apart from the portions where I acknowledge as potential bais. My comments/views are not meant to insight disrespect/conflict among anyone. My overt mentioning of DmC is not for the sake of bashing/insulting, but as a more direct comparison to DMC4 since this is the closest title in terms of mechanics and general awareness. Also please excuse the shitty typos/gammer mistakes, that always gets me, hopefully you guys can get the gist of my thoughts.